He urged families to give way to injured people and ambulances that are still being brought in.

The Punjab health department has imposed an emergency in all teaching hospitals in Lahore following the blast.

â€œThe injured were initially taken to Ghurki Hospital, which is nearest to the site of the blast,â€ adding â€œPatients in critical condition are being shifted to Services Hospital for the treatment,â€ the health department spokesperson said.

Police and rescue officials have reached the scene and further investigations are underway.

President, PM express grief

President Mamnoon Hussain, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Punjab Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif have expressed grief over the loss of precious lives in the blast, Radio Pakistan reported.

In separate statements, they expressed sympathy with bereaved families.

The premier has sought a report of the incident and directed the concerned authorities to provide the best medical treatment to the injured people.

Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has taken notice of the incident and sought report from the administration and police authorities.

At what point will the core of the Ghazi army realize that this shit cannot be controlled? Or is Pakistan really a defunct state that nobody has control on the arms of the state? I would say Paki Army should corps regularly meet with Indian Army corps, only then those mad mullahs will come back to sanity.

At least 52 people, including children and security personnel, were killed and about 200 others injured in a powerful suicide blast in Pakistan at Wagah on Sunday, minutes after the popular flag-lowering ceremony at the Indo-Pak border.Officials said that it was suicide attack and at least 52 people had been killed and 200 suffered injuries.

"A large number of people were returning after watching Rangers parade ceremony at Wagah border when a suicide bomber blew himself up near one of the exit gates," Inspector General Police of Punjab Police Mushtaq Sukhera said. He said three rangers personnel were also among the dead.

To a question about security arrangements, the IG said, "The Rangers had made stringent security measures but it was difficult to check suicide bomber".Huge crowds gather every day at the crossing to watch a "lowering of the flags" ceremony, which soldiers from both countries have conducted for decades.Earlier reports had said it could be a cylinder blast.

In the wake of Muharram, the police had made strict security measures."We had reports that some banned outfits might target Shias, religious personalities, public processions and important buildings," IG Sukhera said.He said, "Our teams have confirmed that it was a suicide blast". The IG said that the suicide bomber was stopped at the gate of the parade ground at the border and detonated the bomb right when people gathered near the gate.

"Up to five kilogrammes of explosive material was used in the blast," Sukhera said."The bomb exploded outside a restaurant near a Pakistani paramilitary soldiers' checkpoint at Wagah border," he added.

The al-Qaeda affiliated group Jandullah has claimed responsibility for the attack, according to Express News.

Imdad Husain, an eyewitness, told reporters that he was returning after watching the parade ceremony when he heard a bang near the Wagah border market."I fell unconscious. When I gained consciousness there had been complete darkness. Many injured and I cried for help lying on the road. After 15 minutes some rescue men came towards me and shifted me to the Ghurki Hospital, a border area health facility," he said.

Samina Bibi was also returning along with her husband and two young children when the blast took place. On the bed of the Ghurki Hospital she was crying and asking the doctors about her husband and children. "The doctors were comforting her saying they are alright," Imdad said.Punjab Emergency Services Rescue 1122 spokesman Jam Sajjad told PTI that 50 people had been killed so far and feared rise in the death toll."We have shifted about 200 injured in different hospitals of Lahore," he said. Quoting a senior doctor at Ghurki Hospital, he said the condition of over a dozen is critical.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has condemned the Lahore blast and ordered the authorities concerned to provide best medical facilities to the injured.